LOS ANGELES, CA – Ahead of the Los Angeles Chargers’ game against the Denver Broncos last week, sixteen women, three little girls and one man became walk-up donors and gathered just inside the SoFi Stadium gates before kickoff to cut off to donate hair in honor of breast cancer awareness. With fans arriving for the game looking and cheering on the donors, more than 170 cumulative inches of hair were donated.
The donated hair goes to the Hair We Share organization that makes wigs for those suffering from hair loss due to medical conditions. Hair We Share provides the wigs free of charge to cancer resource centers and hospitals around the country. They are generally given free of charge to those who need them.
Following their initial donation cuts, cosmetologists from Paul Mitchell Temecula, Smith Salon and Rylin Ashlee Salon shaped and styled the new hairdos.
“It can be devastating to someone undergoing medical treatments to lose their hair,” said Suzanne Chimera of Hair We Share. “Wearing a wig can give someone the confidence they need on the outside to take things on, and that transcends how they feel on the inside. We are indebted to Pechanga Resort Casino and the LA Chargers for raising so much incredible awareness for the need for hair donations.”
“Our spa staff recognized the need for hair donations related to Breast Cancer Awareness back in 2013,” said Andrew Masiel, Sr., President of the Pechanga Development Corporation. “This initiative is now in its eighth year and this year, is put on an even larger stage thanks to our partnership with the Chargers. We’re humbled the work we do at Pechanga is helping countless people undergoing cancer treatment, as well as their families.”
Several days before the haircut event at SoFi, Pechanga and the Chargers hosted a dozen breast cancer survivors for a day of pampering at Spa Pechanga. The women received massages and facials, catered breakfast and lunch, and a special visit from Amy Staley, wife of Chargers’ coach Brandon Staley.
“It brought me so much joy to see these women relaxing and enjoying each other’s company on this day of pampering,” said Staley. “The Chargers and Pechanga partnered to give these women a special day… relaxation and survivor sisterhood. That is beautiful.”
